GEOGRAPHY
Location:
Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey
Geographic
coordinates: 40 00 N, 45 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total: 29,800 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
Area—comparative:
slightly smaller than Maryland
Land
boundaries:
total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km
Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime
claims: none (landlocked)
Climate:
highland continental, hot summers, cold winters
Terrain:
Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing
rivers; good soil in Aras River valley
Elevation
extremes:
lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerr 4,095 m
Natural
resources: small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc,
alumina
Land
use:
arable land: 17%
permanent crops: 3%
permanent pastures: 24%
forests and woodland: 15%
other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated
land: 2,870 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural
hazards: occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts
Environment—current
issues: soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; energy
blockade, the result of conflict with Azerbaijan, has led to deforestation
when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan)
and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result
of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water
supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant without adequate
(IAEA-recommended) safety and backup systems
Environment—international
agreements:
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Nuclear Test Ban, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants
Geography—note: landlocked
